Presicce-Acquarica: discovering an enchanting Salento village

Presicce-Acquarica is a municipality in the Capo di Leuca area, established in May 2019.

The town is located seventeen kilometers from Santa Maria di Leuca, the very tip of the Italian peninsula.

With its imposing architectural works highlighting the use of pietra leccese (Lecce stone) and its historical traditions, Presicce-Acquarica has become a setting for films and prestigious advertisements.

Let’s now explore the history and monuments of Presicce, before moving on to discover Acquarica.

Presicce – Historical Notes

The Latin etymology “Prae-situm-Prae-sitio” supports the thesis of Giacomo Arditi, a local historian, who claimed that Presicce was founded in the 4th century A.D. after a three-year drought forced the inhabitants of nearby hamlets to settle in this once marshy area.

Others trace its origins to the presence of Basilian monks who lived in nearby caves.

The Byzantine domination, often overlooked, preceded the Norman rule, which left significant marks on art, customs, and traditions.

From the 13th to the 19th century, Presicce saw the arrival of numerous feudal families, including the De Liguoro and the Bartolotti.

From the latter, the inhabitants inherited their nickname “Mascarani.” Prince Carlo Francesco Bartilotti, known for his greed and indulgence, claimed the jus primae noctis—the right to spend the first night with the town’s brides. Legend has it that this led to his assassination by a masked man, leaving the townspeople forever branded with the nickname “Mascarani.”

The Mother Church of Presicce and the Column of St. Andrew

The Mother Church, dedicated to St. Andrew and the Assumption of Mary, was built in 1778 on the ruins of a 16th-century church.

It is considered one of the most fascinating works in the province, a late-Baroque construction marked by Corinthian pilasters. The old bell tower, built in Lecce stone, still remains.

The church has a Latin cross plan, with openings that flood the interior with light, creating a play of colors throughout the day. Inside are eight side altars with stucco decorations and paintings by local artists such as Catalano.

The main altar, in rare polychrome marble, the baptismal font, and holy water stoups are of Neapolitan school, attributed to Baldassarre Di Lucca. Angels and the bas-relief of the Patron Saint are also linked to the Neapolitan school, possibly from the workshop of Giuseppe Sammartino, sculptor of the famous Veiled Christ.

The architectural exchanges between Presicce and Naples may have been facilitated by the friendship between Marquis Arditi and King Francis I of Bourbon.

The Column of St. Andrew According to historical reconstructions, Prince Bartilotti erected the column in memory of his four-year-old son Andrea, who died prematurely.

The Underground Oil Mills

In Salento, natural and artificial caves were often used as dwellings. In Presicce, however, they were also transformed into underground oil mills for producing olive oil, the “liquid gold” of Salento.

By 1816, there were about 23 underground mills, creating a true subterranean city. Teams of five men worked tirelessly during autumn and winter, producing oil that was shipped from Gallipoli to all of Europe.

The Courtyard Houses (I Curti)

Typical of Salento’s historic centers, these consist of open courtyards surrounded by multiple housing units with separate entrances. Families shared wells, basins, and sometimes animals. An example is the Corciuli district, a long courtyard with double access and a very narrow alley.

The Ducal Palace of Presicce and its Hanging Gardens

The Ducal Palace tells nearly a thousand years of history. Built and expanded over centuries by noble families, it likely originated as a Norman fortress.

Its interiors feature barrel and groin vaults, and the “throne room” has a wooden truss ceiling. The palace underwent four main phases of construction, culminating under Duke Paternò, who added neo-Gothic battlements, stables, warehouses, and workshops.

The hanging gardens are a source of pride for the locals, with symmetrical flowerbeds surrounding an 18th-century fountain shaded by wisteria. From this elevated position, visitors enjoy views of Piazza Villani, the Mother Church, the Column of St. Andrew, and noble palaces.

Where to Stay in Presicce

A great option is the guesthouse “Le Tre Sorelle”, offering three rooms (two doubles and one triple), each named after the sisters who run the family business. Located in the historic center near the Mother Church, it allows guests to explore the village on foot. Breakfast is included with vouchers for local cafés.

In the same courtyard is the XI Comandamento pizzeria, which stands out for its wood-fired oven, unlike most local pizzerias that use electric ovens. Together, they create a warm, family-run atmosphere that makes guests feel at home.

Acquarica – Historical Origins

The origins of Acquarica are very similar to those of Presicce: both were chosen as settlements because of their abundance of water.

According to some hypotheses, Acquarica was inhabited starting in the 11th century, with two settlements: one near the castle and the other in the locality of Celsorizzo. Other theories suggest that three hamlets once surrounded Acquarica: Cardigliano, Ceciovizzo (today Celsorizzo), and Pompignano.

Between the 9th and 11th centuries, the Saracens destroyed Pompignano, forcing its inhabitants to seek refuge in Acquarica, thanks to its plentiful water. Later, when Ceciovizzo and Cardigliano also fell, their populations merged into Acquarica. In old maps, the town was marked with the addition “de Lama” (Latin for lagoon or stagnant water), from which the name of the district “Lama” derives. This marshland disappeared when a sinkhole (vora) swallowed the waters, drying the area.

In the 12th century, Acquarica came under the protection of Knight Guarino. In the 15th century, it returned under the Prince of Taranto. In 1504, the Guarino family regained control until 1528, when they lost it for treason after siding with the French in an anti-Spanish revolt.

Afterwards, Acquarica suffered demographic and urban decline, which ended only with the fall of feudal lord Giovanni Centellas, who had even renamed the town “Centellas.” Once his rule ended, the town resumed the name Acquarica, with the addition “del Capo” to distinguish it from another hamlet of the same name near Vernole.

In the 19th century, Acquarica became famous for its production of reed containers made from marsh reeds along the Ionian coast. This craft was awarded at the Vienna World Exposition of 1873 and began to be exported throughout Europe and beyond.

The Castle of Acquarica

The castle is the heart of the village, around which the settlement developed. Today, only part of the fortress remains, including one of its four towers.

Although known as a medieval castle, after 15th-century renovations it took on a Renaissance appearance. It was once surrounded by a moat, later filled in. Heraldic coats of arms of the Guarino and Centellas families are still visible.

The surviving tower, dating to the 16th century, reflects the military strengthening of the structure. The lower floor now houses the Reed Museum.

In the inner courtyard stands the Palatine Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, with a Renaissance portal leading to a vaulted hall with traces of frescoes and an apse with hidden medieval paintings. Recent restorations uncovered numerous tombs of various eras.

The Church of San Carlo

Located in the square opposite the castle, the Church of San Carlo was built in the 17th century by Fabrizio Guarino Junior after a miraculous healing attributed to St. Charles Borromeo.

The bell tower is simple, with a Baroque top. Inside, the church has two naves: the left, larger, with three bays and the main stone altar; the right, smaller, with the 1664 Annunciation altar. The left nave also features altars dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Charles, and the Immaculate Virgin.

The church preserves valuable artworks, many from Naples and Salento, reflecting the cultural ties between the local nobility and the capital.

The Reed Museum

Housed in the castle, the museum celebrates the ancient craft of weaving marsh reeds (paleddhu). This tradition dates back to at least the 18th century, when women artisans (spurtare) created baskets, cheese molds, and decorative objects.

At its peak in the 19th century, the craft gained international recognition, including at the Vienna World Exposition of 1873. Though it declined in the 20th century, some local businesses still keep it alive today, producing innovative modern designs.

Festivals and Celebrations in Presicce-Acquarica

• Religious feasts: Celebrations honor the Madonna dei Panetti, St. Luigi, the Madonna del Carmine, the Madonna del Ponte, St. Carlo, and St. Andrew.
  • For St. Carlo’s feast, villagers once raised a pig that roamed the streets eating scraps, later sold to fund the festivities.
  • For St. Andrew’s feast, the focareddha (bonfire) tradition warms the community on the eve of winter, now accompanied by fireworks and performances.
  • The tamburreddhu tradition features musicians playing band music during the novena of St. Andrew.
• Cultural events:
  • Presicce in mostra (since 1999): churches, palaces, underground oil mills, and gardens open to visitors, with music, theater, tastings, and historical reenactments.
  • Grano in Festa (formerly Sagra del Grano): held in late July or early August in the Celsorizzo complex, with straw sculptures, traditional dishes like lu ranu stumpatu, concerts, markets, and workshops.
  • Colori dell’Olio (since 2009): originally a festival dedicated to olive oil, now a major music and food event, hosting artists such as Francesco De Gregori, Max Gazzè, Piero Pelù, Nek, Fabrizio Moro, and Noemi.

Presicce-Acquarica is a land where history, art, and tradition intertwine, offering visitors a unique journey through medieval castles, Baroque churches, ancient crafts, and vibrant festivals.